Display turnstile



Jan. 19, 1937.

' M. E. HARRISON 51- AL DISPLAY TURNSTILE Filed Aug. 24, 1935 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY TURNSTILE Application August 24, 1935, Serial No. 37,720

4 Claims.

I This invention relates to turnstiles and has as a broad object to provide a turnstile adapted to display reading or pictorial matter in a conspicuous manner so that it will be brought to the attention of people passing through the stile and also to bystanders. It is particularly effective as an advertising device in stores of the self service type in which customers are admitted through one-way turnstiles to compel them to leave through particular exit paths leading past collecting and wrapping counters. In such installations our turnstile may be very effectively employed to advertise merchandise sold in the store. The use of our stile is not limited to advertising, however, and it may be advantageously used, for instance, to display various informative writing, pictures, etc., relating to the building or grounds where the stile is located.

Other objects of the invention, together with variousfeatures of construction thereof will become apparent from the following detailed description which refers to the drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is an elevation view of a turnstile in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the turnstile;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation view through the center of the stile;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken in the plane IV-IV of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through one of the turnstile arms, the section being taken in the plane VV of Fig. 3.

Our turnstile, as illustrated in the drawing,

comprises a pedestal l upon the upper end of which is mounted a rotatable hub member 2,

from which project radially four arms 3.

The pedestal I may be of a hollow construction throughout the major portion of its length, as shown in Fig. 3, but is surmounted at the upper end by a stub shaft 4 of relatively small diameter as compared with the diameter-of the pedestal I. That portion of the upper end of the pedestal I surrounding the stub shaft 4 is preferably flat to constitute a surface 5 for vertically supporting the hub 2 which is journaled on the stub shaft 4.

A thrust washer 6 of fiber or other suitable material is preferably positioned between the bearing surface 5 and the lower surface of the hub 2 to reduce friction. Likewise a thrust washer l of similar material may be positioned on top of the hub 2 and secured in place by a plate 8 which is in turn held in place by bolts 9 which extend through apertures provided therefor in the plate 8 and the stub shaft 4 and are threaded into the upper end of the pedestal I.

Usually turnstiles of the type illustrated are adapted to turn in only one direction so as to permit passage therethrough in one direction and block it in the reverse direction. To this end, a ratchet device may be incorporated in the mechanism shown in the drawing, this ratchet device as shown comprising a plurality of rollers l0 operating in slots II in the outer periphery of the shaft 4. The bottom surfaces of the slots II are inclined in one direction and the rollers ID are urged toward the shallow ends of the slots by springs l2. As a result, when the hub 2 is urged in a clockwise direction (with respect to Fig. 4) the rollers ID are carriedto the sliallow ends of their slots where they wedge against the bearing surface of the hub 2, thereby preventing further rotation. However, if the slot 2 is urged in a counterclockwise direction, the rollers ID are urged toward the deep ends of their retaining slots whereby they are released from wedging engagement with the slot 2, thereby permitting it to turn freely.

In accordance with the present invention, we mount upon the hub 2 a display dome l3 and so construct the arms 3 as to adapt them for the display of reading or pictorial matter.

The dome I3 is similar to a four-sided pyramid having its faces curved in one plane only from the base to the apex. Obviously, the number of sides may be varied and minor variations made in the shape. For instance, the faces might well be flat instead of curved, the exact shape being quite immaterial to the invention. The dome I3 is preferably secured directly to the top of the hub 2 by providing an outwardly extending lip or flange 14 on the base of the dome l3 which is engaged by a ring is secured to the hub 2 as by screws l6.

Although the dome It may be made of any desired material and the advertising or display matter secured thereto by gluing it or otherwise securing it to the outside surface of the dome, we prefer to make the dome E3 of transparent material, illuminate the interior of it and then employ transparencies either formed in the globe itself or secured to the inner or outer surface thereof for the display matter.

To illuminate the interior of the dome 53 we prefer to insert an electric lamp ll therewithin, this lamp being supported by a stem or base i8 from the stationary stub shaft 4. The wiring for the lamp may extend through the upper end of the pedestal l and down through the pedestal and through the floor to any suitable source of supply. By virtue of the fact that the lamp is secured to the stationary portion of the stile, the wiring is not twisted by rotation of the stile.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the dome I3 itself is substantially clear, being constructed of glass, celluloid or similar transparent material, and the display matter is in the form of thin transparency sheets it! stuck tothe outer surface of the dome.

To adapt the arms 3 for display purposes, these arms are preferably constructed as shown in the sectional views of Figs. 3 and 5. Thus each arm comprises a metal base portion 20 which may be of cast iron and is provided with downwardly projecting side walls 2!, a central reinforcing rib 22, an inner end wall 23 and an outer end wall 24. The side walls 2i are also preferably extended upwardly and inwardly to constitute parallel lips 25 defining grooves 26 which receive a glass display window 21, this window being held in place by a metal end cap 28 secured to the end wall 24 by a bolt 29. A strip of paper, cardboard or other material 38, bearing the matter to be displayed, is mounted below the window 21, being either loosely positioned therebelow or secured to the under face of the window with transparent cement. Access to the under side of the window 21 may be had by removing the end cap 28. The window itself may be slid longitudinally out of the arm when the cap 28 is removed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the illuminated dome I3 will con spicuously display translucent display matter mounted on the dome and that the glass top arms 3 further provide for the conspicuous display of advertising or other matter positioned in the arms.

Various departures may be made from the specific construction disclosed in the drawing without departing from the invention and the latter is only to be limited as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A turnstile comprising a hub member rotatable about a vertical axis having gate arms secured thereto, with stationary means for pivotally supporting said hub for rotation about its axis, in combination with a hollow dome of transparent material bearing display transparencies and a lamp positioned Within the dome.

2. A turnstile as described in claim 1, in which the lamp positioned Within said dome is mounted upon said stationary means for pivotally supporting said hub.

3. A turnstile comprising a hub member rotatable about a vertical axis, having gate arms secured thereto with stationary means for pivotally supporting said hub for rotation about its axis, in which one of said gate arms comprises a main body portion of relatively strong material and an upper wall portion of transparent material with matter to be displayed positioned below said transparent wall portion.

4. A turnstile comprising a hub member rotatable about a vertical axis having horizontal gate arms secured thereto, With stationary means for pivotally supporting said hub for rotation about its axis, in which one of each said gate arms comprises an elongated member having a recessed upper surface for supporting a display sheet, guide means on opposite sides of said recess, a transparent cover plate slidably supported at its edges by said guide means, and a detachably mounted end member on the outer end of said elongated member for maintaining said cover plate in position.

MERTON E. HARRISON. ALBERT V. ECI-ITERNACH. 

